US Declares Victory in Iran Conflict as Regime Escalates Repression
American "war secretary" Pete Hegseth has proclaimed mission accomplished following a 40-day military campaign against Iran, inviting the Iranian people to "take advantage of this opportunity" in his first post-ceasefire media appearance. However, this triumphalist declaration starkly contrasts with the reality on the ground, where Tehran's authoritarian regime has not been toppled but has instead intensified its brutal crackdown on dissent.
Foreign Militias Bolster Iran's Security Apparatus
Despite Hegseth's assertions, the fundamental structure of Iran's regime remains intact, with only superficial leadership changes through targeted assassinations. In a significant escalation, the regime has reinforced its notorious Basij militia with Shiite militias from Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan—most designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations and Western governments.
"It's really bad—the regime is still bent on fighting its own people," revealed a UK government adviser speaking anonymously. Video evidence shows large convoys from Iraq's People's Mobilisation Front crossing into Iran in late March, with units like Kataib Hezbollah establishing bases in strategic Gulf cities including Khorramshahr and Abadan.
Local residents expressed grave concerns about this development. "These forces have come to kill people," commented one Abadan resident, referencing previous government-sanctioned violence. Another questioned why the Islamic Republic would finance and support these foreign fighters, asking, "Why should the Islamic Republic pay for Hashd al-Shaabi terrorists and even house and feed their families for free?"
Execution Campaign Accelerates Amid International Scrutiny
The regime has simultaneously accelerated its execution campaign, conducting 14 hangings in just three weeks despite ongoing conflict and international attention. Charges range from arson attacks on Basij stations to moharebeh or "rebellion against God." Among the victims are dual Iranian-Swedish citizen Kourosh Keyvani and teenage national wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi.
Iran's Ministry of Justice has confirmed processing at least 9,000 indictments, though the regime typically withholds complete execution statistics. Amnesty International notes drily that "Iran is the second most prolific executioner after China," highlighting the systematic nature of this repression.
Desperate Measures Signal Regime Vulnerability
The deployment of non-Persian speaking foreign militias—Arabs from Iraq and Pashtuns from Afghanistan and Pakistan—reveals the Revolutionary Guard's desperation according to analysts. These forces supplement the Basij's estimated 100,000-250,000 members, creating what one Tehran resident called "the regime's last card" in its survival strategy.
Particularly disturbing is the discovery of child soldiers as young as twelve manning checkpoints, replaced by foreign fighters from Pakistan's Zainabiyoun Brigade and Afghanistan's Fatemiyoun Division. "This shows that it has entered a survival phase—and has no cards left at all," observed the Tehran resident.
Geopolitical Calculations and Regional Proxy Networks
The regime's primary strategic card remains control of the Hormuz Strait through its own forces and influence over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait via Houthi proxies in Yemen. However, maintaining this position grows increasingly challenging as the Revolutionary Guard and Basij face mounting domestic opposition alongside external pressures.
In Iraq, the PMF's shifting allegiances illustrate the complex regional dynamics. Originally formed to combat Sunni militants after the Islamic State's declaration in 2014, these predominantly Shiite militias have loosened ties with Baghdad's government and openly declared support for Iran following recent conflicts involving America and Israel.
Contradictory Narratives and Uncertain Future
Professor Ali Ansari of St Andrews University suggests these developments might herald the Islamic Republic's final chapter, though its collapse could occur "in five months or five years." He argues the Revolutionary Guard and Basij's campaign against their own population cannot continue indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth's victory declaration represents what analysts describe as "populism with a new twist"—one that has brought Iranian citizens the opposite of empowerment. Their suffering continues unabated after forty days of bombardment and political posturing from American and Israeli leadership.
Domestic American sentiment appears similarly unimpressed, with recent Maga polls indicating limited public enthusiasm for the conflict's outcomes. As the gap between official narratives and ground realities widens, Iran's people face intensified repression from a regime fighting desperately for survival.
